With just over two weeks remaining before the NBA's 2013 trade deadline, ESPN's Chad Ford suggested the Milwaukee Bucks are "VERY active" (emphasis his) in the trade market. Ford echoed colleague Marc Stein's earlier comments regarding Samuel Dalembert, whom the Bucks have reportedly been actively shopping. Speaking in a chat on ESPN, Ford suggested Dalembert wasn't the only player on the block:

Monta Ellis, Ersan Ilyasova, Beno Udrih, are all available. Even Brandon Jennings at the right price.

John Hammond has consistently stated his approval of the current backcourt pairing in Milwaukee, but there has also been little talk about Ellis' future with the Bucks. That raises the obvious suspicion that the Bucks are just trying to keep up appearances with Ellis, who could opt out of the $11 million he's owed next season and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Milwaukee has previously discussed extending Ellis, but that's never been a likely scenario: any extension would require Ellis to pick up his 13/14 option, be limited to just two years beyond his current deal, and the first year salary would be limited to 7.5% above his current deal. It's not likely Ellis signs for more than $12 million this summer, but presumably he'd be looking for a new four year deal to take him into his early 30s.